The Strathmore Centre for Tourism and Hospitality (CTH) hosted a two day Digital Tourism Seminar on 9th and 10th of February 2017, with E-Tourism Frontiers, a global company focusing on digital tourism training in emerging markets with a focus on Africa.

The seminar hosted over 50 delegates from industry professionals and students in the hospitality and tourism field.

The two-day Digital Tourism Seminar was conducted by a Professional International trainer, Mr. Damian Cook. He gave interesting insights such as how to use TripAdvisor as a marketing platform in managing travel as a business. The sessions he gave included managing social media channels such as Facebook, Instagram, website development, e-commerce, online reservations and bookings, multimedia, user generated content, mobile marketing, search engine optimization among others.

Mr. Cook, the CEO of E-Tourism Frontiers, emphasized the importance of online tourism. “With over 60% of travel now being researched, booked and bought online, and social media playing a critical role in travel marketing, ensuring that the African tourism sector is partaking and benefiting from this fast growing space is essential for the sector’s growth and survival.”

Mr. Cook went on to say, “this seminar will show case the latest tools and trends on how to best leverage social media for travel and tourism businesses factoring in the vast growth of smartphone usage in the travel space. We will also focus on offering practical training and solutions to grow and improve business.”

CTH is recognizing the growing importance of focusing on digital and online tourism and has incorporated it in the two degree programs it offers;

BSc Hospitality Management

BSc Tourism Management

Aside from this, the centre is scheduled to start a course on Digital Tourism, targeting industry players.